Vehicle passage control device

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a vehicle passage control device capable of suppressing damage and breakage of an opening/closing bar thereof to the minimum, and suppressing damage and the like of a vehicle to the minimum even if the vehicle collides with the opening/closing bar. 
     The vehicle passage control device is a vehicle passage control device in which an opening/closing bar  12  that regulates passage of a vehicle is provided, the vehicle passage control device being installed at a passage gate of an entrance or exit of a toll road or the like. The vehicle passage control device performs opening/closing control for the opening/closing bar  12  to rotationally move and upspring obliquely upward in front in a passing direction of the vehicle. An inclined angle θ at which the opening/closing bar  12  rotationally moves and upsprings obliquely upward remains within a range from approximately 25 degrees to approximately 55 degrees with respect to a road surface. A vehicle sensing sensor that senses a vehicle approaching a front of the opening/closing bar  12  is provided, and an instruction to open the opening/closing bar  12  is issued when the vehicle is sensed by the vehicle sensing sensor. When a predetermined load or more is applied to the opening/closing bar  12 , an instruction to perform an opening operation is issued to the opening/closing bar  12.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a vehicle passage control deviceincluding an opening/closing bar for controlling permission ornon-permission of vehicle passage on an ETC (registered trademark) laneor the like at an entrance or exit of an expressway, a toll road or thelike.

BACKGROUND ART

This type of conventional vehicle passage control device is a controldevice in which, after fee payment processing or the like is finallycompleted by a proper communication between a roadside radio device andan on-board machine, an opening/closing bar provided on the controldevice concerned is opened, and a vehicle is enabled to pass through apassage gate.

Then, in order that a driver of the vehicle can visually recognize anopening/closing state of the opening/closing bar satisfactorily from aninside of the vehicle that goes slowly, the opening/closing barconcerned is configured so as to rotationally move perpendicularly to aroad surface and in a direction at right angles to a traveling directionof the vehicle.

That is to say, this opening/closing bar is formed so as to rotationallymove within a plane vertical to the road surface.

However, in this conventional vehicle passage control device, there area variety of problems as below.

Since passage of the vehicle is inhibited, the vehicle collides with theopening/closing bar and the opening/closing bar is broken in the casewhere the vehicle cannot stop immediately in front of theopening/closing bar.

Therefore, in such a current device, in a portion of driving theopening/closing bar, such an impact avoidance mechanism that enables theopening/closing bar to rotationally move in a direction horizontal tothe road surface is provided. However, it is the present condition thatthe breakage/damage of the opening/closing bar itself is inevitable.

Once the vehicle collides with the opening/closing bar, theopening/closing bar opens until becoming parallel to such a vehicletraveling direction, a lock mechanism for preventing a rebound works,and the opening/closing bar is fixed. Therefore, in order to return thedevice concerned to a normal usage state, it is necessary for anoperator to walk to an installation location of the device, and to resetthe device.

In a passage gate in which ETC (registered trademark) is provided, itcannot be estimated when the collision occurs. Accordingly, the operatorfor resetting the opening/closing bar must always be distributed at atoll booth or the like.

In order to make the resetting, the operator must go to the vehiclepassage control device. However, there also occurs a necessity that theoperator should cross a traffic lane on the way, and there also occurs apossibility that the operator may encounter an accident with the passingvehicle.

In each of passage control devices described in the following patentdocuments, an opening/closing gate thereof rotationally moves up anddown perpendicularly to the road surface.

Then, in Patent Document 1, it is an object thereof to further downsizea drive device of the opening/closing bar, and in Patent Document 2, itis an object thereof to prevent a trouble of the opening/closing bar atthe time of a power failure.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS Patent Documents

-   Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.    2008-127911-   Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.    H11-61752

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

In this connection, in order to solve a variety of the above-describedproblems, the present invention has the following items as objectsthereof.

First, one of the objects is to suppress, to the minimum, the damage andbreakage of the opening/closing bar of the vehicle passage controldevice.

That is to say, the object is to make it possible to suppress, to theminimum, the damage/breakage of the opening/closing bar even if thepassing vehicle collides with the opening/closing bar.

Moreover, another object is to make it possible to open theopening/closing bar in the case where the collision with theopening/closing bar cannot be avoided.

Furthermore, still another object is to eliminate a necessity that theoperator should manually reset the opening/closing bar even if thevehicle collides with the opening/closing bar.

Besides the above, the objects of the present invention alsoincorporate: operations at the time of the power failure; at the time ofusing a right and left pair of opening/closing bars, dealing with thecase where one of them fails; adoption of a more efficient configurationin maintenance of the device; and further, avoidance of damage onvisibility of the opening/closing bar.

Means to Solve the Problems

A first aspect of the present invention is a vehicle passage controldevice in which an opening/closing bar that regulates passage of avehicle is provided, the vehicle passage control device being installedat a passage gate of an entrance or exit of a toll road or the like,characterized in that the vehicle passage control device performsopening/closing control for the opening/closing bar to rotationally moveand upspring obliquely upward in front in a passing direction of thevehicle.

Here, “obliquely upward” in front in the vehicle passing directionstands for both of opening/closing operations in which theopening/closing bar rotationally moves and upsprings “linearly obliquelyupward” and “curvedly obliquely upward”.

In a second aspect of the present invention according to the firstaspect, an inclined angle at which the opening/closing bar rotationallymoves and upsprings obliquely upward remains within a range fromapproximately 25 degrees to approximately 55 degrees with respect to aroad surface.

In a third aspect of the present invention according to the first orsecond aspect, a vehicle sensing sensor that senses a vehicleapproaching a front of the opening/closing bar is provided, and theopening/closing bar is opened when the vehicle is sensed by the vehiclesensing sensor.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention according to any one of thefirst to third aspects, the opening/closing bar is opened when apredetermined load or more is applied to the opening/closing bar.

In the fifth aspect of the present invention according to any one of thefirst to fourth aspects, the vehicle passage control device includes aright and left pair of vehicle passage control devices, opening/closingbars thereof are opened to both right and left sides, theopening/closing bar of one of the devices performs an opening operationand maintains an open state in a case where the one of the devicesfails, and vehicle passage control is configured to be enabled by anoperation of only the opening/closing bar of other of the devices.

In the sixth aspect of the present invention according to any one of thefirst to fifth aspects, the opening/closing bar has a substantiallycircular shape in cross section, and on a surface thereof, two types ofpaint different in color are alternately applied in a spiral fashion.

Effects of the Invention

In the first one of the present invention, the opening/closing barrotationally moves and upsprings obliquely upward in front in thepassing direction of the vehicle. Accordingly, even in the case wherethe passing vehicle collides with the opening/closing bar, a directionof an impact thereof is directed forward, and does not contradict arotationally moving direction of the opening/closing bar at all. Inother words, the opening/closing bar turns to such a state of beingpushed and opened forward. Although the opening/closing bar and a frontportion of the vehicle come into contact with each other, an impactthereof is absorbed, whereby it becomes possible to suppress the damageand breakage of the opening/closing bar and the vehicle to the minimum.

Moreover, the opening/closing bar does not rotationally move forward inthe horizontal direction, but rotationally moves obliquely upward andturns to a retreated state. Accordingly, it also becomes possible forthe driver to surely visually recognize a state where theopening/closing bar is opened (that is, a state where theopening/closing bar upsprings).

Moreover, a connection portion between the opening/closing bar and arotational spindle of the opening/closing bar is made movable by auniversal joint or the like, and a basal portion of the opening/closingbar is guided by a guide rail or the like, whereby it is also possibleto curvedly adjust a rotational trajectory of the opening/closing bar.Then, this rotational trajectory is matched with a collision(substantially horizontal) direction on a closed state side, and isgradually set to a curved trajectory guided to an upward trajectory,whereby a function to absorb and relieve energy at the time of thecollision can be exerted. In addition, when viewed from the driver, aninitial speed of such an opening operation looks slow (at the beginning,the opening/closing bar rotationally moves in the substantiallyhorizontal direction). Accordingly, an effect of speed suppression ofthe passing vehicle can be expected. However, in terms of a relationshipbetween mechanical complexity and such an opening speed, it is moreadvantageous to rotationally move the opening/closing bar obliquelyupward simply linearly.

In the above-described first invention, in the second one of the presentinvention, such an angle range at which the opening/closing barrotationally moves obliquely upward is limited, and within this range,the visibility from the driver can be ensured most satisfactorily.

In the above-described first and second inventions, the opening/closingbar does not perform any positive retreating operation against thecollision of the passing vehicle. Meanwhile, in the third one of thepresent invention, a structure is adopted, in which the opening/closingbar is instantaneously opened in such a manner that the collision of thepassing vehicle is sensed by the vehicle sensing sensor.

In such a way, it is also intended to prevent contact between theopening/closing bar and the vehicle. Even if the vehicle and theopening/closing bar contact each other, the opening/closing bar performsthe opening/retreating operations by itself, and accordingly, it becomespossible to suppress the damage of the opening/closing bar and thevehicle to the minimum.

In the fourth one of the present invention, the opening/closing bar isadapted to perform the opening operation when the predetermined load ormore is applied to the opening/closing bar.

In such a way, when the vehicle collides with the opening/closing bar,the opening/closing bar can perform the opening operation, and on theother hand, even if the predetermined load or less is applied to theopening/closing bar by a strong wind of a typhoon or the like, it ismade possible to prevent the opening/closing bar from causing amalfunction and opening.

In the fifth one of the present invention, in the vehicle passagecontrol devices in which the right and left pair of opening/closing barsare provided, setting is made so that, in the case where one in the pairfails, the one can automatically perform the opening operation andmaintain the open state, whereby the vehicle passage control isconfigured to be enabled only by opening/closing bar of other of thedevices.

In the sixth one of the present invention, on the surface of theopening/closing bar, two types of paint different in color arealternately applied in the spiral fashion in order to maintain thevisibility of the opening/closing bar. In such a way, even in the casewhere the opening/closing bar rotationally moves obliquely upward, sucha zebra pattern of the two colors becomes satisfactorily visible fromthe driver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1(A) and 1(B) illustrate an embodiment according to vehiclepassage control devices of the present invention: FIG. 1(A) is a planview thereof; and FIG. 1(B) is a front view thereof.

FIGS. 2(A) and 2(B) illustrate an opening/closing bar as a main portionof the embodiment according to the present invention: FIG. 2(A) is apartially cutaway side view thereof; and FIG. 2(B) is an enlarged viewof an operating unit of the opening/closing bar.

FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B) illustrate an opening/closing bar according toanother embodiment of the present invention: FIG. 3(A) is a perspectiveside view thereof; and FIG. 3(B) is a perspective enlarged view of anoperating unit of the opening/closing bar.

FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B) illustrate vehicle passage control devices accordingto the embodiment of the present invention, in which vehicle sensingsensors sensing a position of an entering vehicle are provided: FIG.4(A) is a plan view thereof; and FIG. 4(B) is a front view thereof.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of vehicle passage control devices according tothe embodiment of the present invention, in which sensing positions ofthe entering vehicle are different from those of FIG. 4(A).

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

A description is made below of an embodiment of the present inventionwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1(A) and 1(B) illustrate an embodiment of vehicle passage controldevices according to the present invention: FIG. 1(A) is a plan viewthereof; and FIG. 1(B) is a front view thereof.

The vehicle passage control devices 10 according to this embodimentinclude a right and left pair of devices, and each of the vehiclepassage control devices 10 is formed of a body section 11, and anopening/closing bar 12 that has a rotational spindle thereof on an upperfront side of this body section 11.

The pair of vehicle passage control devices 10 and 10 are installed onboth sides of a road surface R that passes through a passage gateinstalled at an entrance or exit of an expressway or the like. Each ofthe opening/closing bars 12 rotationally moves within an inclined planeinclined in front in a vehicle traveling direction with respect to theroad surface R, and rotationally moves and upsprings obliquely upward by90 degrees.

In other words, a rotationally moving unit 14 located at a basal portionof each of the opening/closing bars 12 is provided on an inclinedsurface 13 formed by chamfering a front surface-side corner portion ofan upper surface of the body section 11.

Hence, unlike the conventional one that up springs vertically upward,each of the opening/closing bars 12 rotationally moves and upspringsupward in a state of being inclined obliquely with respect to thetraveling direction where the vehicle passes.

In each of the opening/closing bars 12, spiral-like red paint 12 r isapplied on a white base thereof, and the opening/closing bar 12 isconfigured so that a driver can visually recognize a zebra pattern ofsuch two colors of red and white satisfactorily at any rotation angleeven if the opening/closing bar 12 rotationally moves upward.

As means for rotationally moving the opening/closing bar 12, any meanssuch as an electric motor and a hydraulic motor may be used.

Note that the opening/closing bar can not only be rotationally movedlinearly within the inclined plane inclined in front in the vehicletraveling direction but also rotationally moved curvedly within theinclined plane concerned.

That is to say, a connection portion between the rotational spindle thatrotationally moves the opening/closing bar and the opening/closing barconcerned is made movable by a universal joint or the like, and thebasal portion of the opening/closing bar is guided by a guide rail orthe like, thus also making it possible to rotationally move theopening/closing bar curvedly (along a curved surface in which an upperside is protruded, or a lower side is protruded).

When the opening/closing bar is rotationally moved curvedly along acurved surface in which a lower side is protruded, an initial operationof the opening/closing bar becomes substantially horizontal.Accordingly, an upward opening operation of the opening/closing bar isvisually recognized to be slow by the driver, and an effect that avehicle driving speed can be restricted at the time when the vehicleenters the passage gate is exerted.

FIGS. 2(A) and 2(B) illustrate the opening/closing bar as a main portionof the embodiment according to the present invention: FIG. 2(A) is apartially cutaway side view thereof; and FIG. 2(B) is an enlarged viewof an operating unit of the opening/closing bar.

In this embodiment, an electric servo motor 20 is used as such drivingmeans for the opening/closing bar 12.

On an ETC (registered trademark) lane, when a roadside radio device andan on-board machine of the passing vehicle properly communicate witheach other, and an instruction on passage permission is issued, theabove-described servo motor 20 is energized, and the servo motor 20rotates. Following this, the opening/closing bar 12 rotationally movesobliquely upward, and the opening/closing bar 12 is opened.

When the vehicle passes through such a vehicle passage control device10, a vehicle passage sensing sensor (not shown) senses this passage,and controls the servo motor 20 to rotate reversely.

In the event where the vehicle collides with the opening/closing bar 12at a high speed, and this situation cannot be dealt with by the servomotor 20, then in an inside of the rotationally moving unit 14, abearing pressed by a return spring 21 wound around an outercircumference of the spindle for the opening/closing bar 12 is detached,and the opening/closing bar 12 is released, whereby the opening/closingbar 12 and the servo motor 20 are prevented from being damaged. Astructure is adopted, in which such a bearing portion is locked again ina state where the opening/closing bar 12 completely turns to an openstate, and a return owing to the collision is prevented.

In this embodiment, an inclined angle θ of the rotational movement ofthe opening/closing bar 12 with respect to the road surface is set at 40degrees. This is because ±15 degrees of this angle are an angle range atwhich the driver of the vehicle can visually recognize such a rotationalmovement operation of the opening/closing bar most satisfactorily. It isnecessary to adjust the angle range in consideration also of a gradientand line shape of the entire road.

Note that any problem does not occur if this inclined angle θ of therotational movement remains within a range from approximately 25 degreesto approximately 55 degrees, and in this case, the inclined angle θ ofthe rotational movement becomes suitable; however, is appropriatelysettable according to needs.

In the case where the inclined angle is smaller than this angle range,visibility from the driver is deteriorated, and when this inclined anglebecomes larger than this range, there occurs an apprehension that thedamage and the like of the opening/closing bar and the vehicle may beincreased when the vehicle collides with the opening/closing bar.

Moreover, in this embodiment, though not shown, a torque sensor isprovided on the spindle that rotationally supports the opening/closingbar 12, and when this torque sensor is loaded with a load equal to orlarger than a load, for example, when a wind speed is 40 m/s, thissensor is set to be activated, and then to allow the opening operationof the opening/closing bar.

In such a way, the opening/closing bar can be prevented from opening bywind up to the wind speed of 40 m/s, and in addition, when the passingvehicle collides with the opening/closing bar, the opening/closing barcan automatically perform the opening operation by a load of thecollision concerned. However, as described above, the configuration isadopted, in which the opening/closing bar 12 is released by the functionof the return spring 21 at the time of the hard collision.

As a matter of course, it is made possible to deal with such a problemof a collision of the passing vehicle by separately providing a vehiclesensing sensor as will be described later.

In a similar way to the above-described drawings, FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B)illustrate an opening/closing bar according to another embodiment of thepresent invention: FIG. 3(A) is a perspective side view thereof; andFIG. 3(B) is a perspective enlarged view of an operating unit of theopening/closing bar.

In this embodiment, an electric cylinder 30 is used as operating meansfor the opening/closing bar 12.

By actuation of the electric cylinder 30 equipped in an upper portion ofan inside of the body section 11, a reciprocating operation of thecylinder rod 31 is converted into a rotating operation, and the spindlefor the opening/closing bar 12 is rotated, whereby the opening operationof the opening/closing bar can be performed.

That is to say, on the ETC (registered trademark) lane, when theroadside radio device and the on-board machine of the passing vehicleproperly communicate with each other, and the instruction on the passagepermission is issued, the above-described electric cylinder 30 isenergized, the cylinder rod 31 is extended, and the spindle isrotationally moved. Following this, the opening/closing bar 12rotationally moves obliquely upward, and the opening/closing bar 12 isopened.

When the vehicle passes through such a vehicle passage control device,the vehicle passage sensing sensor (not shown) senses this passage, andcontrols the electric cylinder 30 to rotate reversely.

In the event where the vehicle collides with the opening/closing bar ata high speed, the bearing pressed by the return spring 21 wound aroundthe outer circumference of the spindle for the opening/closing bar 12 isdetached, and the opening/closing bar 12 is released, whereby theopening/closing bar 12 and the electric cylinder 30 are prevented frombeing damaged. A structure is adopted, in which such a bearing portionis locked again in a state where the opening/closing bar 12 completelyturns to an open state, and a return owing to the collision isprevented.

As described above, in the present invention, the structure is adopted,in which the opening/closing bar 12 rotationally moves and upspringsobliquely upward in front in the traveling direction of the passingvehicle.

Therefore, on the ETC (registered trademark) lane or the like, in thecase where there occur such unforeseen circumstances that thecommunication between the roadside radio device and the on-board machineis not properly performed, and that the vehicle enters the passage gatein a state where the opening/closing bar is left closed, the vehiclecollides with the opening/closing bar; however, the opening/closing baritself is configured so as to move to open also in a forward directionin terms of the structure thereof, and accordingly, impact resistance atthe time of the collision is further reduced.

FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B) illustrate vehicle passage control devices accordingto the present invention, in which vehicle sensing sensors sensing aposition of an entering vehicle are provided: FIG. 4(A) is a plan viewthereof; and FIG. 4(B) is a front view thereof.

Vehicle sensing sensors 18 are individually provided on a front side ofthe body sections 11 of the vehicle passage control devices 10, that is,on a vehicle entrance side, and a sensing direction S thereof isparallel to the opening/closing bars 12 which are in a closed state.

That is to say, each of the vehicle sensing sensors 18 is provided so asto sense a state immediately in front of a vehicle V collides with theopening/closing bar 12. An optical sensor is used as this sensor.

Hence, each of the vehicle passage control devices is configured so as,when the vehicle sensing sensor 18 senses the presence of the vehicle,to issue an instruction to perform the opening operation of theopening/closing bar 12, to energize the servo motor, and toinstantaneously open the opening/closing bar 12.

In such a way, the impact owing to the collision between theopening/closing bar 12 and the vehicle V is further reduced, and thedamage and the like of the opening/closing bar 12 and the vehicle V canbe minimized.

As a matter of course, for a vehicle that has passed through the vehiclepassage control devices in such a state, display/notice of abnormalpassage or illegal passage is performed by a signboard, an alarm and thelike after the vehicle passes through the vehicle passage controldevices, whereby the vehicle is urged to stop, and appropriatepost-processing is performed.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment in which vehicle sensing sensors areprovided in the vehicle passage control devices according to the presentinvention in a similar way to the embodiment in FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B);however, sensing positions of the sensors concerned are differentiatedfrom those in FIG. 4(A).

Specifically, the vehicle sensing sensors 18 are provided on the frontside of the body sections 11 of the respective vehicle passage controldevices 10, that is, on the vehicle entrance side. Unlike the embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B), the vehicle sensing sensors 18concerned are installed so as to be capable of sensing the enteringvehicle when the entering vehicle is located not immediately in front ofthe opening/closing bars 12 but a little on the front side thereof.

Specifically, though it is necessary to differentiate the sensingpositions concerned depending on an entering speed of the vehicle V, theentering speed of the vehicle V is assumed to be 60 km/h in thisdrawing, and a linear distance from centerlines of the opening/closingbars 12 to the sensing positions is set at 2145 mm.

In such a way, the above-described vehicle sensing sensors 18 sense thevehicle V that has entered at the speed of 60 km/h in a state where theissuance of the instruction to open the opening/closing bars 12 is leftundone, whereby a configuration is adopted so that the opening operationof the opening/closing bars 12 can be instantaneously performed. In sucha way, before the entering vehicle V collides with the opening/closingbars 12, the opening/closing bars 12 perform the opening operation,whereby collision between the opening/closing bars 12 and a frontportion of the vehicle V can be avoided, and the damage of both thereofcan be prevented.

Such optical sensors 18 are columnar sensors. These optical sensors areinstalled at several spots at a height of a vehicle tip end portion(ground clearance: 500 mm to 1000 mm), and are set so as to allow theopening operation when one or more thereof senses the vehicle tip endportion.

As described above, in consideration of the speed and the like of theentering vehicle, the optical sensors are installed on the front side ofthe opening/closing bars by a fixed distance, and are adjusted so thatthe opening/closing bars cannot open too quickly. Moreover, the opticalsensors are installed at a height of approximately 500 mm from theground, whereby erroneous opening owing to fallen leaves and the like isprevented.

Note that there are footboard-type sensors besides the optical sensors,and in ETC (registered trademark), there are also those using sensorswhich count the number of axles. However, the footboard-type sensors andthe like are inferior in lifetime and ease of maintenance since avehicle weight is applied thereto. Accordingly, it is conceived that theoptical sensors are advantageous.

The description has been made above of the embodiments of the presentinvention; however, the present invention can be embodied by changing aform thereof variously in the following manner.

First, the right and left pair of vehicle passage control devices areused in each of the above-described embodiments; however, these can beembodied by either one of the right and left vehicle passage controldevices, that is, as a vehicle passage control device by oneopening/closing bar.

Actuating means and mechanism for rotationally moving each of theopening/closing bars can also be appropriately and freely selected andused.

Each of the opening/closing bars can also be embodied by coating thereona cover for preventing the damage.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the optical sensors are usedas the vehicle sensing sensors; however, other sensing means can beused.

Moreover, the positions at which the vehicle is sensed can also beappropriately set according to needs.

In the case where the right and left pair of vehicle passage controldevices are installed, the right and left control devices concerned canalso be configured so as to be capable of being actuated independentlyof each other, and even in the case where either one thereof fails, theright and left control devices concerned can also be configured so thatthe other control device can be normally actuated.

In the case where an electric drive device is used as the actuatingmeans for each of the opening/closing bars, the electric drive devicecan also be configured so as to automatically leave the opening/closingbar in an open state or a close state by using a battery at the time ofthe power failure.

Moreover, at the time when such a power failure state as described aboveis released, the electric drive device can also be configured so as tobe remotely operable in order to return the vehicle passage controldevice to a normal state. For example, it is also possible, by awireless communication, to allow the electric drive device to perform anoperation of shutting off activation of the battery, and to return thevehicle passage control device to the normal state.

In a similar way, in the case where either one of the pair of devicesfails, the opening/closing bar of the failed device as one in the pairis opened and is left opened, whereby it becomes possible to perform thepassage control for the vehicle only by the opening/closing operation ofthe opening/closing bar of the other device. In this case, in the casewhere it becomes impossible to drive one of the devices by the motorowing to the failure thereof, the bearing of the opening/closing bar ofthe failed one of the devices is electrically released, whereby theopening operation is performed by a spring and the like.

It is also possible to compose each of the vehicle passage controldevices so that the opening/closing bar, actuator and control boardthereof can be easily replaced, and that only a failed portion of theseconstituent components can be easily replaced at the time of such afailure.

As described above, the present invention has been able to provide avehicle passage control device that exerts extremely significant effectsby means of the simple configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   10 Vehicle passage control device-   11 Body section-   12 Opening/closing bar-   13 Inclined surface-   14 Rotationally moving unit-   18 Vehicle sensing sensor-   20 Servo motor-   21 Return spring-   30 Electric cylinder

1. A vehicle passage control device in which an opening/closing bar thatregulates passage of a vehicle is provided, the vehicle passage controldevice being installed at a passage gate of an entrance or exit of atoll road or the like, characterized in that the vehicle passage controldevice performs opening/closing control for the opening/closing bar torotationally move and upspring obliquely upward in front in a passingdirection of the vehicle.
 2. The vehicle passage control deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein an inclined angle at which theopening/closing bar rotationally moves and upsprings obliquely upwardremains within a range from approximately 25 degrees to approximately 55degrees with respect to a road surface.
 3. The vehicle passage controldevice according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a vehicle sensing sensor thatsenses a vehicle approaching a front of the opening/closing bar isprovided, and the opening/closing bar is opened when the vehicle issensed by the vehicle sensing sensor.
 4. The vehicle passage controldevice according to claim 1, wherein the opening/closing bar is openedwhen a predetermined load or more is applied to the opening/closing bar.5. The vehicle passage control device according to claim 1, wherein thevehicle passage control device includes a right and left pair of vehiclepassage control devices, opening/closing bars thereof are opened to bothright and left sides, the opening/closing bar of one of the devicesperforms an opening operation and maintains an open state in a casewhere the one of the devices fails, and vehicle passage control isconfigured to be enabled by an operation of only the opening/closing barof other of the devices.
 6. The vehicle passage control device accordingto claim 1, wherein the opening/closing bar has a substantially circularshape in cross section, and on a surface thereof, two types of paintdifferent in color are alternately applied in a spiral fashion.